ARPA Funding (American Rescue Plan Act)

The Guilford Board of Selectmen chose The Guilford Foundation to partner with the town to distribute $1 million in federal funding to charitable organizations impacted by COVID-19 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Funding Source:

• American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - federal legislation providing pandemic relief
• Guilford Board of Selectmen initially subrecipient agreement: $500,000
• Increased to $1,000,000 in September 2023
• Intended to "address the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency"
• Total funding: $1,000,000
• 34 organizations received awards
• 27 organizations received full funding requested

Funding Priorities:

• Basic needs
• Strengthening the community
• Mental health awareness, prevention, and intervention

Process:

• ARPA Review Committee formed including TGF Board Members, community representatives, and Connecticut-based ARPA resource
• 36 applications received requesting total of $1,966,504
• Committee thoroughly reviewed all applications
• TGF Board of Directors unanimously approved 34 awards
• Recipients notified December 2023
• Payouts distributed in early 2024

Geographic Scope: Guilford, Connecticut area

Eligibility:

• 509(a)(3) not-for-profit organizations
• 170(c)(1) governmental agencies
• Serving the Guilford community
• Impacted by COVID-19

Why TGF Was Selected: Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey stated: "The Guilford Foundation is one of the trusted organizations on the shoreline in assessing the needs of nonprofits in Guilford. They were instrumental in getting COVID relief funding to individuals and families. In my mind's eye, there's no better choice."

2023 ARPA Funding Recipients (34 organizations awarded $1,000,000):
APK Charities Corporation ($35,000), BHcare ($30,000), Central Connecticut Coast YMCA/Soundview Family YMCA ($25,000), Community Dining Room ($35,000), Community Nursery School ($52,000), Faulkner's Light Brigade ($26,000), Guilford Agricultural Society ($30,000), Guilford Art Center ($75,000), Guilford Center for Children ($23,000), Guilford Community Television ($37,000), Guilford Fund for Education ($55,000), Guilford Interfaith Volunteers ($75,000), Guilford Keeping Society ($26,000), Guilford Performing Arts Festival/GreenStage Guilford ($50,000), Guilford Sailing Foundation ($5,000), Junior Achievement of Southwest New England ($25,000), Knights of Columbus Council #3928 ($10,000), Legacy Theatre ($18,500), Move to Heal ($15,000), Neighborhood Music School ($20,000), North Guilford Nursery School ($10,000), Orchard House Medical Adult Day Center ($20,000), Paul Dostie KARE Foundation ($15,000), Read to Grow Inc. ($10,000), Shoreline Arts Alliance ($18,000), Shoreline Village CT ($10,000), Starship Dance Theater & Company ($35,000), The Connecticut Hospice ($75,000), The Cove Center for Grieving Children ($5,000), The Dorothy Whitfield Historical Society ($26,000), The Dudley Foundation/The Dudley Farm Museum ($26,000), The Ethan Miller Song Foundation ($25,000), Witness Stones Project ($7,500), Women and Family Life Center ($50,000)